PoleVaultPower.com

What would everyone say is the most helpfull book or video that they have seen.

For vaulting?

Neovault...it's so much better when you have a visual representation of the jumps you're being explained...

Lord of the Poles wrote:Neovault...it's so much better when you have a visual representation of the jumps you're being explained...

Other good videos to watch are Vault 2000 (by Spencer Chang) and Don West's video.

Il salto con l'asta its in italian, but if you can get past that and just pay attention to what is being conveyed, its money. oh yeah Vitali Petrov put this one together a few years ago.

I'm a big fan of Jan Johnson's videos: the Skysystems I, II, III, IV, and V videos. He blends serious technical know-how, music, and rare film footage, with more enthusiasm and laugh-out-loud funny material than you can imagine. He shows training for college vaulters, his Skyjumpers vaulters in Calif., and good clips from his infamous Skyjumpers Camps. They're perfect for vaulters of all ages.

Here's the key to what's in the videos:

Skysystems I: Starts with a lecture-oriented presentation/demonstration by Jan of the fundamentals of good vault technique, illustrated by video vaults. It then moves to a mix of vaults and technique drills and other stuff. This is a great one to have just for the information in the lecture/demonstration at the beginning alone.

Skysystems II: This one's got a lot of weight lifting, gynnastics, imitative, and other workout drills illustrated mostly by Cal Poly vaulters training w/Jan in the late 80's & early 90's. Of course there's plenty of good vault footage and other technical demonstration. For those who want fresh ideas for how to TRAIN to be a pole vaulter (I often hear people asking "what sort of lifting or gymnastics should I do?"), this one's full of very, very helpful ideas.

Skysystems III: Number Three is my personal favorite because it is the best total mix of everything: explanations; drills; vaults (some really great vaults); etc.

Skysystems IV: I think that this is an excellent video. It's especially good for coaches and vaulters who want to learn beginning technique. Jan demonstrates a lot of essential building block-type drills that are especially good for beginning and novice vaulters. This tape has also got a fabulous explanation of how to teach vaulters to use a correct approach-run and how to learn to bend the pole.

Skysystems V: I already said that III is my "personal favorite" but V ("Americana") is a very close second. I think that most perople (esp. those under the age of 40) would say that this one is their favorite. Unlike the others where some time is devoted to demonstrations or lectures, this one has almost no talking (except incidental). Instead it teaches pole vaulting and training for the vault, by immersing you (the viewer) in a nearly exhausing barrage of music, drills, vault camp antics, surfing, gymnastics, lots of just plain weird footage of a variety of athletic endeavors, and many, many terrific vaults from topl evel competitions.

On rainy days and/or winter days I like to just let my high school vaulters watch these tapes. I don't think that they're ever boring, and I must have watched each one at least 10 times (Skysystems V "Americana" probably 20 times).

That's my "review" of Jan Johnson's Skysystems videos.

Maybe if there's a large enough outcry from this board we can convince Jan to take the master tapes and have them converted over to DVD...it's pretty cheap to do...The format is the only reason I haven't purchased these. I haven't owned a VCR for a few years now. I'd order all 5 today if it was on DVD.

I've spoken with him about doing just that. As a matter of fact, I pressed the issue with him earlier this month. I think with just a little more pushing, he'd be willing to put them on DVD.

"As his lawyer," I'm going to advise him to do so!

Russ- tell him to get on that ASAP! it would be so much easier! (ps. thanks for the website)

casey

Jan just told me that he's going to get them transferred for DVD this fall.

Yea!

The Neovaults. End of discussion.

Sean Brown your still my hero.

Although the introduction is CORNY (Especially from an MD!!), Vault 2000 is hands down the best Vault Video in respect to learning technique and great videos of vaulters. It also helps USATF Pole Vault Development because the profits go to help top American Vaulters. Thanks Dr. Chang for such a great video.

NEO Vault is the best if you are into raw footage!

Is there a connection between the music in Skysystems and Grosse Pointe Blank? I think Skysystems was first.